Hasselbeck not thrilled with 18-game schedule idea

While NFL owners are pushing toward an expanded 18-game season as part of their negotiation process in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement with players, that idea isn’t necessarily selling well with the guys who’d take on the increased burden on the field.

“Eighteen games would be a lot tougher physically for the players,” Hasselbeck said Wednesday. “There’s no doubt about that. I was with a lot of the big guys, offensive and defensive linemen, when I first heard that and it was mind-boggling to them because it is so physical, especially up front.”

Owners are looking for a way to increase revenues heading into CBA negotiations, which figure to get contentious next year when the league could lock players out if no agreement is reached.

Extra games will surely be a key point in the wrangling between the player’s union and owners.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh is Seattle’s player rep with the NFL Players Association, but Hasselbeck is the alternate rep and traveled to Hawaii over the offseason to attend the NFLPA meetings.

“I haven’t met a player yet that likes the sound of that or thinks that’s a fair trade,” said Hasselbeck. “But our focus right now is trying to get ready for this season. Next year is looming. It’s this big question mark and it can be a distraction if you allow it.

“Right now it’s there, but I think everyone is doing the best they can to focus on this year.”

Asked if the 18-game schedule could be a stumbling block to an agreement, Hasselbeck declined to draw a line in the sand.

“I am very hopeful that everyone can work something out,” he said. “I think everything is really good. I know on the players side, we want to play. If we have to make a sacrifice like that, I for one would be willing to make a sacrifice.

“But there’s got to be a trade-off there. And I don’t know exactly what that would be, whether it would be health care later on in life or whatever. Something has to be a win-win there, I think.”

Just eliminating two preseason games would not be a sufficient swap, in Hasselbeck’s mind.

“That’s a big difference,” he said of regular-season and preseason contests. “That’s apples and oranges right there.”